Machine for selective offset printing



Jan. 10, 1961 w. RITZERFELD ETAL MACHINE FOR SELECTIVE OFFSET PRINTING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 27, 1959 Jnvenfor.

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Jan. 10, 1961 Filed NOV. 27, 1959 W. RITZERFELD ETAL MACHINE FOR SELECTIVE OFFSET PRINTING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @OOOO% @OOOOQ- (b00008- Jn vemo r:

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United States Patent 67 4 MACHINE. FOR SELECTIVE OFFSET PRINTING Wilhelm Ritzerfeld, Schorlemer Allee 14, Berlin-Dahlem, and Gerhard Ritzerfeld, Franzensbader Str. 2 1, Berl n-'- Grunewald, Germany Filed Nov. 27, 1959, se No. 855,733 Claims priority, application Germany Nov. 26, 1958 20 Claims. (Cl. 101--91) The present invention relates to a lithographic printing machine for selective offset printing, and more particularly to a machine of this type capable of printing selected sections of a printing form in adjacent positions on a copy sheet.

It is the main object of the present invention to provide a lithographic printing machine capable of selecting de sired sections of a printing form for transfer to the offset cylinder.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lithographic printing machine in which printing of undesired sections of a printing form on the ofiset cylinder is prevented. i

A further object of the present invention is to provide in a lithographic printing machine an offset cylinder which is operated in such a manner that it is spaced from the printing form when undesired sections of the same pass through the printing line, and is prevented from rota} tion in such spaced position.

With these objects in view, the present invention mainly consists in an ofiset printing machine. One embodiment of the machine of the present invention comprises a rotary printing roller for supporting a printing form having sections, such as lines or columns; a pressure roller; an ofiset roller for transferring imprints from the printing form to a copy sheet; operating means for moving the rollers relative to each other between a first'position in which theprinting roller and the ofiset roller cooperate along a first printing line and are spaced from the pressure roller, 2. second position in which all rollers are spaced from each other, and a third position in which the offset roller and the pressure roller cooperate along a second printing line and are spaced from the printing roller; control means for effecting during one revolution of the printing roller movement of the rollers to said first position when selected sections of the printing form pass through the first printing line, for effecting movement of the rollers to the second position when undersired sections of the printing form pass through the first printing line, andfor effecting movement of the rollers to the third position after one revolution of the printing roller; and means for preventing rotation of the offset roller in said second position.

While the offset roller is stopped in said second position, undesired sections of the printing form pass by during rotation of the printing roller, and when the oifset roller is again moved to the first position, a selected desired section of the printing form produces an imprint on the offset roller adjacent the first imprint of a selected section of the printing form. When the offset roller is then moved to the third position cooperating with thej'pres; sure roller, the imprint on the olfset roller is transferred to a copy sheet, so that the selected sections of the prf ing form are printed adjacent each other on the copy sheet.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the offset roller is moved in relation to the 'ot under control of electromagnetic means. Blocking in p block rotation of the oifset roller in the second position, i

but are released by other electromagnetic means before the offset roller is moved to the third position cooperating with the pressure roller for printing on the copy sheet.

When the olfset roller moves to its first position, gears on the printing roller and on the ofiset roller assume a meshing position, while the offset roller moves away from the blocking means.

The offset roller is moved toward and away from the printing roller during the first revolution of the printing roller. During the'second revolution of the printing roller, the olfset roller is moved to its third position cooperating with the pressure roller. During a third revolution of the printing roller, cleaning means are actuated to clean the surface of the oflset roller.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the copy sheet is held by holding means on the peripheral surface of the pressure roller while the offset roller transfers the imprint in the third position. The holding means for the copy sheet are preferably constructed and operated to grip a copy sheet supplied thereto during rotation of the pressure roller.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the oifset roller is shifted by electromagnetic means which are controlled by a plurality of switch means. The switch means are successively operated by a rotary actuating member which rotates in synchronism with the printing roller, and each switch means is associated with a section of the printing form. To select desired sections of the printing form, the respective switch means are rendered operative by the operator, so that the oifset roller moves to its first position cooperating with the printing roller whenever the actuator cooperates with the respective selected switch means.

The arrangement of the present invention permits the printing of a selected number of spaced lines of a printing form in adjacent position on the offset roller from where the imprint is transferred'to the copy sheet. Any selected combination of lines can be; printed directly adjacent each other on the offset roller, and then transferred to any number of copy sheets during repeated revolutions of the offset roller and of the pressure roller.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particularin the appended claims. The invention itself, howevehboth as to its construction and its method of operation,"'together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will"b'e best understood from the following desc'ription'of specific embodiments when read in connection with 'the accompanying' drawings, in which: L

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary schematic side view, partly in section, of one embodiment of" the offset printing machine according to the present invention; and Y Fig. 2 is a fragmentary schematic sideview illustrating a detail of the printing machine shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, and inore particularly to Fig. 1, a printing roller 2 is mounted on a driven shaft 1 and cooperates with an ofiset roller 14 which in'turn co ope'rates with a pressure roller 7. i

gear 3 is fixed'o'n shaft 1 of printing roller 2 and drivesthrough gears 4a1id 5 a gear 6 which is connected to'pressu're -roller7 for rotation so that the pressure roller is driven. Gear 5 also meshes with'a gear 8 whieh meshes with a gear 9 connected to a depositing member 10.' Member 10 has a suction duct and picks copy sheets to deposit the same on thetable 55.

Gear 6 meshes with gear 11 which" drives,-t hrough gear 12 and an electromagnetic coupling" ll'iftl e olfset 1 i F9 -9 5 ifi9 ?1 ng i 99W hf ll if cally shown since it is of a conventional type. The two seea ns h l es s asel-ins 13. a P? Y lY wow d up printed.

to gear 13 and to the offset roller 14 for rotation. Therefore, offset roller 14 rotates only when the electromagnetic coupling means 13 is energized. A first lever means 19 supports the offset roller 14, and is mounted on a second lever 20 by means of a pivot pin 41. Lever means 20 has a portion 50 which is turnably mounted on shaft 1 and is under the action of a torsion spring 49. One end of lever means 19 is connected to a spring 42 which tends to turn lever means 19 in counterclockwise direction. A link 18 is secured to the same end of lever means 19, and is connected to the armature of an electromagnetic means 17. Another link 48 is connected to the armature of another electromagnetic means 148. It is evident that energization of electromagnetic means 17 will turn lever means 19 about fulcrum 41 so that offset roller 14 will move to the position illustrated in Fig. 1 cooperating with a printing form 23 on printing roller 2. When electromagnetic means 17 is disconnected, spring 42 will move the offset roller 14 in the opposite direction away from the printing roller 2. Energization of electromagnetic means 148 will effect movement of lever means 19 with lever means 20 which turns about shaft 1 against the action of spring 49 until ofiset roller means 14 assumes a position cooperating with the pressure roller 7 along the printing line BC. When the electromagnetic means 148 is disconnected, torsion spring 49 will move offset roller 14 away from the pressure roller 7.

Gear 11 is movably mounted in a supporting means 111 so that gears 11, 12 and 6 remain in meshing engagement during movements of the offset roller 14.

In the first position of the ofiset roller 14 in which the offset roller 14 cooperates with the printing form 23 on the printing roller 2, a pair of gears 21 and 22, which are respectively connected to printing roller 2 and to offset roller 14 for rotation, are moved into meshing engagement. The pitch of gears 21 and 22 is selected to correspond to line sections of the printing form 23. When the offset roller 14 is moved to its second position in which it is spaced from the printing roller 2, and also from the pressure roller 7, the teeth of gear 21 engage teeth on a stop means 43, which has substantially the shape of a rack bar, and is movable in guide means on a lever means 47 which is turnable about a pivot 64. Stop 43 abuts on a spring loaded abutment 44, so that when oflset roller 14 is shifted and gear teeth 21 engage stop 43, stop 43 resiliently gives before stopping offset roller 14 in an exactly determined position.

Lever means 47 is under the action of a spring 63, and connected to a link 46 which is attached to the armature of another electromagnetic means 45. When electromagnetic means 45 is energized, link 46 retracts lever means 47 so that stop means 43 releases gear means 21 and thereby offset roller 14 so that the same can be moved by electromagnetic means 148 to its third position cooperating with pressure roller 7, and is also free to rotate while the peripheral surface of the oifset roller 14 rolls on the peripheral surface of the correspondingly turning pressure roller 7.

The printing form 23 on printing roller 2 is moistened by moistening means 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, and is inked by inking means 78, 79, 80, 81 and 82.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the pressure roller 7 is covered by an elastic sheet 38, and is provided with holding means 52 which are capable of gripping and holding a copy sheet on the cylindrical peripheral surface portion of the pressure roller 7. A stationary arcuate cam 53 cooperates with a cam follower 54 on holding means 52, so that the holdmeans 52 is opened for releasing the copy sheet when passing the depositioning means 10. In this manner, a printed and released copy sheet is picked up by depositing member and deposited on the table 53 as member 10 is turned in synchronism with pressure roller 7 through gears 6, 5, 8 and 9.

The opened holding means 52 is again closed when cam follower 54 releases stationary cam 53. At this moment, a copy sheet supplied by supply means 51 is picked up by holding means 52, so that the copy sheet is held on the peripheral surface of pressure roller 7 and passes through the printing line B-C. The means for feeding copy sheets to the pressure roller means 7 are not an object of the present invention but will now be described to permit a better understanding of the operation. A stack of copy sheets is located in a magazine 28, and the uppermost copy sheets are loosened by air blown through a row of openings 27 in the magazine 28. A suction feeding means 25 is moved into engagement with the uppermost copy sheet, and then laterally shifted to move the first copy sheet into engagement with positioning means 30, 29, while the movable positioning means 29 is in the position illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 1. An electromagnetic means 59 acts through a link on a lever 61 which is connected to the movable positioning means 29.

Photo-sensitive means 32 sense the position of the copy sheet in the positioning means 29 and 30, and control electromagnetic means 59 for lifting positioning means 29 when the supplied copy sheet is properly positioned. At the same time, photo-sensitive means 32 give a command signal to a motor, not shown, which has a shaft 33 on which a gear 34 is fixed. This motor will perform a single revolution, when started, and will turn through gear 34, gear 35 which is fixed on a cam means 36. A cam follower means 37 is connected to the shaft of the pressure roller 7 and cooper-ates with cam 36 so that during rotation of cam 36, pressure roller 7 is shifted in guide means 107. The shape of cam 36 is such that pressure roller 7 drops away from offset roller 14 at the beginning of a revolution, so that the offset roller 14 cannot engage the irregular surface portion of pressure roller 7 which is not covered by the copy sheet. When the holding means 52 have passed through the printing line, the cam 35 moves the pressure roller toward otfset roller 14, and when offset roller 14 is moved toward pressure roller 7 by electromagnetic means 148, the surface of the offset roller 14 engages the copy sheet on the pressure roller 7 along the printing line B--C.

Referring again to the supply of copy sheets, the supply means 31 is rockable about a shaft, and is moved by a rotating disc 16 through a resilient connecting member 57. Disc 16 is driven by a gear 15 from gear 6 on the pressure roller. During turning of disc 16, resilient member 57 will move supply means 31 to a position abutting stop 56, and will then be resiliently expanded until having passed through the axis of disc 16. Thereupon, resilient member 57 contracts, and finally moves supply means 31 to a position abutting stop 58. In this position, the free end of supply means 31 is located in a corresponding recess of positioning member 29 in the. position shown in broken lines, and suction ducts in supply means 31 engage the copy sheet held in the positioning means 29, 30 so that the copy sheet is picked up by supply means 31, and moved toward pressure roller 7 after positioning member 29 has been raised by electromagnetic means 59. The motion of supply means 31 with copy sheet 24 is timed with the turning movement of pressure roller 7 so that the holding means 52 are released by a stationary cam 53 at the moment in which the copy sheet is supplied to the holding means, so that the holding means 52 grip the supplied copy sheet and place it on the peripheral cylindrical surface of pressure roller 7, while supply means 31 is returned to pick up the next copy sheet. If the copy sheet is not properly positioned, the photocells 32 disconnect the suction means from the ducts of the supply means 31, so that no copy sheet is picked up and supplied.

Referring now to Fig. 2, a panel 83 is provided with thirty-six buttons numbered 1 to 36, and respectively associated with thirty-six sections or lines of the printing form 23. The push buttons are respectively connected teicqn ae m an efi rranscd n a rel one nt ct plate 40. An actuating, arm 39 is connected to shaft 1' of the, printing roller- '2 for rotation, and passes sue;- cess ivelyfover. the contacts on plate 40. Slip rings rotate with. actuator arm 39, and are engaged by slide contacts connected to electromagnetic means 17 Ifv it is desired, to, print all sections, of the printing form 23, the button, G on panel 83 is pressed, whereby all contacts, 1 to. 3,6 are connected, so that electromag netic means 17 is energized during the entire passage of; arm 39, over the contacts on contaet plate 40. Consequently, offsetroller, 14 is in the position in which its surface cooperates with the printing form on printing roller 2, and in which the gears 21 and 22 mesh. 'Iihe nt e printing f rm P d es a mp nt on the u f e of oifset roller 14, Such imprint is" a mirror-image of the text on the printing form 23. During the next following rotation of the printing roller. 2, offset roller 14 ,is shifted into engagement with the, copy sheet on pressure roller 7, while electromagnetic means 45 retracts stop 45 so that the reversed imprint on offset roller 14 is transferred. to the copy sheet on the pressure roller during the second revolution of the printing roller 2. If it is desired to select certain desired lines or sections of the printing form for printing, and to omit all other sections'of the printing form 23, the buttons associated- With the respective selected sections of the printing form are pressed, for example buttons 1, 2 and 34. In this case, actuator arm 39 effects energizationof electromag netic means 17 only when passing contacts 1, 2 and 34 on contact plate 40. While contact arm 39- engages the respective contacts, the electromagnetic means 17 turns lever 19 in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig." 1, and moves offset roller 14 to a position cooperating with the printing form 23 as long as the respective line or section of the printing form passes through the printing line defined by the printing form and offset roller 14. When contact arm 39 moves away from the respective contact arm plate 40, electromagnetic means 17 is de-energized and spring 42 shifts lever 19 in counterclockwise direction so that gear 21 engages stop means 43, and offset roller 14 is immediately stopped. This operation is repeated whenever contact arm 39 passes a contact on plate. 40 selected by manual operation of a push button on panel 83.

Due to the fact that the gears 21 and 22 have teeth whose pitch corresponds to one line of the printing form, only one line is printed on the offset roller 14 whenever electromagnetic means 17 is energized by a selected con-, tact. The resilient means 44 cooperates with stop means 43 to rapidly stop offset roller 14, and then returns offset roller 14 to its proper position, so that the next selected line of the printing form 23 is printed on the offset roller directlyadjacent the preceding selected line.

In this manner, the selected lines are printed adjacent each other on the peripheral surface of the offset roller 14, and the offset roller 14 is at a standstill while undesirable lines of the printing form pass the stopped offset roller while the same is spaced from the surface of the printing form 23.

After all selected lines are printed on the offset roller 14, or after one revolution of the printing roller 2 is completed, the printing roller operates a switch, not shown, connected into the circuit of electromagnetic means 45 so that the stop means 43 is retracted, and ofiset roller 14 is free to rotate.

At the same time, printing roller 2 effects deenergizing of electromagnetic means 148 so that spring 49 moves lever 20, and thereby lever 19 and offset roller 14 toward pressure roller 7.

The electromagnetic coupling 13 between gear 12 is at the same time energized by a switch actuated by printing roller 2 at the completion of the first revolution. Conseqneutly, offset roller 14 rotates with the imprint themes in a thir po io in hi h i co p a es th the pressure, roller 7 Suchcooperation takes place duri igfa second revolution of the printing roller 2, and beginning of the secondrevolution, the irregular portions of pressure roller 7 pass through the printing line, and are prevented from contactwith the offset roller 14 due" to" the retraction of pressure roller 7 under control of cam 36, i a i After the holding means 52 has picked up a copy sheet supplied by supply means 31, and has passed through the printing line, cam 36 moves the pressure, roller 7 intoitsprinting position in which the offset roller 1 4 rolls on the'copy'sheet held on the peripheral surface of pressure roller, 7' by holding means 52,: so that the"- reversed imprint on the peripheral surface of offset roller 14 is transferred to, the copy sheet as a positive imprint. '1 Since the selected lines of the printed form, are printed adjacent each other onv the surface of the offset roller: the imprint on the copy sheet also 'has the selected lines" adjacent each other. 7" i V a a In this manner spaced lines or sections of the printing a form, will appear adjacent each other on the copy' sheet.

During the following revolution of the printing roller, the surface of the offset roller 14 is cleaned by a'cleaning device shown in Fig. 2. Gear 6 on pressure roller 7 drives a gear 72 meshing with a gear 71 which is connected to details shown, since various modifications and stru changes may be made without departing'in any way a cam for rotation therewith.

A cleaning fluid 69 is contained in a container 68, and transferred by an immersed roller 67 to a cleaning roller means 66 which is operated by cams 70.

Cam 70 is rotated and shaped to operate the cleaning means 66 during the third revolution of the printing roller for cleaning the surface of the offset roller means; 14. The electromagnetic means, 17 and 45, and the electromagnetic coupling 13 are operated in such a manner that after the printing operation on the copy sheet, and before the printing operation on the offset roller 14 an idle revolution of the offset roller means is accom plished during which the offset roller means 14 cleaned by cleaning means 66.

The feeding means 25 is operated in a corresponding maner so that after every thirdrevolution of the print ing roller 2, the supply means 31 is operated to pick up a copy sheet 24 and to supply it to the holding means 52 after having reached the peripheral speed of the pres{ sure roller 7. When the copy sheet has passed through the printing line, the stationary cam releases holding means. 52 t .1.

The released copy sheet is picked up by the depositing means 10, and deposited on table55.

When copy sheet 24 haspassed through the printing line BC, electromagnetic means 148 is energized, and

moves offset roller 14 through lever means 19 to a re-f tracted position in which lever 20 abuts on a stop '62 which exactly defines the position of the offset roller 14 relative to the printing roller 2. At the same time, the circuit of electromagnetic means 45 is interrupted so that spring 63 turns movable support 47 until it abuts against a stop 65. In this position, gear 21 on offset roller 14 is again engaged by stop 43 so that offset roller 14 is prevented from rotation until it is again shifted away from stop 43, and into engagement with printing roller 2;

It will be understood that each of the elements dc; scribed above, or two or more togethen inay also find useful application in other types of offset printing ma chines differeing from the types described'above;

While the invention has been illustrated anddes cribed selected sections of a printing form adjacent each other on a copy sheet, it is not intended to be limited to the 1 the spirit of the present invention.

w i f he ai es etwee- 9 fell reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equ valence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Offset printing machine comprising, in combination, rotary printing roller means for supporting on peripheral surface sections thereof sections of a printing form; rotary pressure roller means; rotary offset roller means for receiving on the peripheral surface thereof imprints from the printing form and for transferring the imprints to a copy sheet located between said offset roller means and said pressure roller means; operating means to operatively connected to at least one of said roller means for moving the same relative to the other roller means so that said roller means have a first position in which said printing roller means and said offset roller means cooperate along a first printing line and are spaced from said pressure roller means, a second posion in which all said roller means are spaced from each other, and a third position in which said offset roller means and said pressure roller means cooperate along a second printing line and are spaced from said printing roller means; control means controlled by said printing roller means and operatively connected to said operating means for effecting during one revolution of said printing roller means and in timed relation with the same, movement of said roller means by said operating means to said first position when peripheral sections of said printing roller means supporting selected sections of the printing form pass through said first printing line, for effecting movement of said roller means to said second position when undesired sections of the printing form pass through said first printing line, and for effecting movement of said roller means to said third position after one revolution of said printing roller means; means for rotating said offset roller means in said first position of said roller means in timed relation with said printing roller means, and in said third position of said roller means in timed relation with said pressure roller means; and means operatively connected to said offset roller means for preventing rotation of the same in said second position whereby imprints of selected spaced sections of the printing form are printed in adjacent positions on the copy sheet.

2. Offset printing machine comprising, in combination, rotary printing roller means for supporting on peripheral surface sections thereof sections of a printing form; rotary pressure roller means; rotary offset roller means for receiving on the peripheral surface thereof imprints from the printing form and for transferring the imprints to a copy sheet located between said offset roller means and said pressure roller means; operating means operatively connected to at least one of said roller means for moving the same relative to the other roller means so that said roller means have a first position in which said printing roller means and said offset roller means cooperate along a first printing line, and are spaced from said pressure roller means, a second position in which all said roller means are spaced from each other, and a third position in which said offset roller means and said pressure roller means cooperate along a second printing line and are spaced from said printing roller means; control means controlled by said printing roller means and operatively connected to said operating means for effecting during one revolution of said printing roller means and in timed relation with the same, movement of said roller means by said operating means to said first position when peripheral sections of said printing roller means supporting selected sections of the printing form pass through said first printing line, for effecting movement of said roller means to said second position when undesired sections of the printing form pass through said first printing line, and for effecting movement of said roller means to said third position after one revolution of said printing roller means; and means for rotating said offset roller means only in said first and third positions of said roller means for rotating said offset roller means in said first position of said roller means in timed relation with said printing roller means, and in said third position of said roller means in timed relation with said pressure roller means whereby imprints of selected spaced sections of the printing form are printed in adjacent positions on the copy sheet.

3. Offset printing machine comprising, in combination, rotary printing roller means for supporting on peripheral surface sections thereof sections of a printing form; rotary pressure roller means; rotary offset roller means for receiving on the peripheral surface thereof imprints from the printing form and for transferring the imprints to a copy sheet located between said offset roller means and said pressure roller means; operating means operatively connected to at least one of said roller means for moving the same relative to the other roller means so that said roller means have a first position in which said printing roller means and said offset roller means cooperate along a first printing line and are spaced from said pressure roller means, a second position in which all said roller means are spaced from each other, and a third position in which said offset roller means and said pressure roller means cooperate along a second printing line and are spaced from said printing roller means; control means controlled by said printing roller means and operatively connected to said operating means for effecting during one revolution of said printing roller means and in timed relation with the same, movement of said roller means by said operating means to said first position when peripheral sections of said printing roller means supporting selected sections of the printing form pass through said first printing line, for effecting movement of said roller means to said second position when undesired sections of the printing form pass through said first printing line, and for effecting movement of said roller means to said third position after one revolution of said print ing roller means; means for rotating said offset roller means only in said first and third positions of said roller means for rotating said offset roller means in said first position of said roller means in timed relation with said printing roller means, and in said third position of said roller means in timed relation with sad pressure roller means; and blocking means operatively connected to said offset roller means for blocking rotation of the same in said second position and for releasing said offset roller means in said third position whereby imprints of selected spaced sections of the print form are printed in adjacent positions on the copy sheet.

4. An offset printing machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said printing roller means includes holding means for holding a printing form on part of the peripheral surface thereof, and has a diameter greater than the diameter of said offset roller means; and wherein said offset roller means has a peripheral circumference corresponding to the circumferential extension of said part of the peripheral surface of said printing roller means so that said offset roller means is adapted to receive an imprint of all sections of the printing form.

5. Offset printing machine comprising. in combination, rotary printing roller means for supporting on peripheral surface sections thereof sections of a printing form; rotary pressure roller means; rotary offset roller means for receiving on the peripheral surface thereof imprints from the printing form and for transferring the imprints to a copy sheet located between said offset roller means and said pressure roller means; operating means operatively connected to at least one of said roller means for. moving the same. relative to. the other roller means so that: said. roller means have alfirstiposition in which said printing roller means and said offset. roller; means cooperate along atfirstprinting line and are. spaced from said pressure roller means, a second position in, which all: said roller means are spaced from, each other, and athird position-in which said offset roller means and said pressure roller means cooperate along a second: printing linevand are spaced from said printing'roller means;= com trol means controlled by said printing roller means and operatively connected to said, operating. means for, effecting; during, one revolution of said. printing rollermeans and in timed relation with. the same, movement: of said roller means by said operating means to said. firstposition when peripheral sections ofsaid printing roller means supporting selected sections of, the printing form pass throughsaid first printing line, for effecting movement of said roller means to said second position when, undesired sections of the printing form pass through said first print: ing line, and for effecting movement of said roller means to said third position after one revolution of, saidprintv ing roller means; interlocking transmission means: connecting said offset roller means with said printing roller means for rotation in timed relation in saidt first position; means for rotating said ofiset roller meansin: said third position of said roller means in timed relation with said pressure roller means; and blocking means operatively connected to said transmission means for inter; locking with the same only in said second position for blocking rotation of said offset roller means whereby imprints of selected spaced sections of the printing form are printed in adjacent positions on the copy sheet.

6. An offset printing machine as set forth in claim 1 and including a cleaning device including a movable cleaning means movable to and from a cleaning position engaging the surface of said offset roller means; and control means for said cleaning means operatively connected to said pressure roller means and to said cleaning means for moving the latter to said cleaning position in synchronism with the rotation of said pressure roller means and after the same has performed a revolution in said third position of said roller means.

7. An offset printing machine as set forth in claim 6 and comprising means operatively connected to said roller means and to said control means for rotating said printing roller means through a single revolution while said roller means are in said first and second positions, and for rotating said offset roller means and said pressure roller means through a single revolution While said roller means are in said third position, and for rotating said offset roller means through another revolution while said cleaning means is in said cleaning position.

8. An offset printing machine as set forth in claim 1 and including means for supplying successive copy sheets to said second printing line before said roller means assume said third position.

9. Offset printing machine comprising, in combination, rotary printing roller means for supporting on peripheral surface sections thereof sections of a printing form; rotary pressure roller means; rotary ofiset roller means for receiving on the peripheral surface thereof imprints from the printing form and for transferring the imprints to a copy sheet located between said offset roller means and said pressure roller means; operating means operatively connected to at least one of said roller means for moving the same relative to the other roller means so that said roller means have a first position in which said printing roller means and said offset roller means cooperate along a first printing line and are spaced from said pressure roller means, a second position in which all said roller means are spaced from each other, and a third position in which said ofiset roller means and said pressure roller means cooperate along a second printing line and are spaced from said printing roller means, said operating means including electromagnetic means and linkage means. connected at. least, to said, one, roller meansfor moving, said. when means between said positions; con: trolrneans controlled by said printing roller means. and operatively connected to said operating meansfor operat; ing the: same in timed relationwith said printing roller means. and including arplurality of selector switch means respectively associated with said surface sections of said printing roller means and thereby with sections. of the printingform said switch means being connected into the. circuit: of said electromagnetic means and being. oper-. able. for effecting during one revolution of said printing roller means and in timed relation with the same, movementof said roller means by said electromagnetic means to. said first, positionv when peripheral sections of said printing roller means supporting selected sections of the printing form pass through said first printing line, for effecting movement of saidroller means. to said second position, when undesired sections of the printing form pass through said first printing line, said control means effectingmovement of saidroller means to said third posi-. tion after one, revolution of said printing, roller means; means, for rotating said, offset roller means in said first position, of said roller means in timed relation with said printing roller means, and in said third position of said roller means in timed relation with said pressure rol-ler means; and, means operatively connected to said offset mller means for preventing rotation of the same in said second position whereby imprints of selected spaced sections of the. printing form are printed in adjacent positions on the copy sheet.

l0. Offset printing machine comprising, in combination, rotary printing roller means for supporting on pe-. ripheral surface sections thereof sections of a printing form; rotary pressure roller means including holding means for holding a copy sheet on the peripheral sur-v face thereof, said peripheral surfaces of said pressure roller means and of said printing roller means including cylindrical surface. sections having substantially the same diameter; rotary ofiset roller means for receiving on the peripheral surface. thereof imprints from the printing form and for transferring the imprints tov a copy sheet located on said pressure roller means; operating means operatively connected to at least one of said roller means for moving the same relative to the other roller means so that said roller means have a first position in which said printing roller means and said offset roller means cooperate along a first printing line and are spaced from said pressure roller means, a second position in which all said roller means are spaced from each other, anda third position in which said offset roller means and said pres; sure roller means cooperate along a second printing line and. are'spaced from said printing roller means; control means controlled by said printing roller means and opera atively connected to said operating means for effecting during one revolution of said printing roller means and in timed relation with the same, movement of said roller means by said operating means to said first position when peripheral sections of said printing roller means sup? porting selected sections of the printing form pass through said first printing line, for effecting movement of said roller means to said second position when undesired sections of the printing form pass through said first print-vv ing line, and for effecting movement of said roller means to said third position after one revolution of said print? ing roller means; means for rotating said offset roller means in said first position of said roller means in timed relation with said printing roller means, and in said third position of said roller, means in timed relation with said pressure roller means; and means operatively connected to said offset roller means for preventing rotation of the same in said second position whereby imprints of selected spaced sections of the printing form are printed in adja;: cent positions on the copy sheet. I

11. An ofiset printing machine as set forth in claim 10 t and including copy sheet supply means operatively connected with said pressure roller means for operation in timed relation with the same and being movable to and from a supply position located in the region of said pressure roller means so as to be passed by said holding means during rotation of the pressure roller means; and means for operating said holding means to grip a copy sheet supplied by said supply means during rotation of said pressure roller means.

12. An offset printing machine as set forth in claim 11 and including means for operating said holding means to release the copy sheet after same has passed through said second printing line.

13. Offset printing machine comprising, in combination, rotary printing roller means for supporting on peripheral surface sections thereof sections of a printing form; rotary pressure roller means; rotary offset roller means for receiving on the peripheral surface thereof imprints from the printing form and for transferring the imprints to a copy sheet located between said offset roller means and said pressure roller means; operating means operatively connected to said offset roller means for moving the same relative to the other roller means between a first position in which said offset roller means cooperates with said printing roller means along a first printing line and is spaced from said pressure roller means, a second position in which said offset roller means is spaced from said printing roller means and from said pressure roller means, and a third position in which said offset roller means is spaced from said printing roller means and cooperates with said pressure roller means along a second printing line; control means controlled by said printing roller means and operatively connected to said operating means for effecting during one revolution of said printing roller means movement of said offset roller means by said operating means to said first position when peripheral sections of said printing roller means supporting selected sections of the printing form pass through said first printing line, for effecting movement of said offset roller means to said second position when undesired sections of the printing form pass through said first printing line and for effecting movement of said offset roller means to said third position after one revolution of said printing roller means; means for rotating said offset roller means in timed relation with said printing roller means in said first position; means for rotating said offset roller means in timed relation with said pressure roller means in said third position; and means for blocking rotation of said offset roller means in said second position whereby imprints of selected spaced sections of the printing form are printed in adjacent positions on the copy sheet.

14. Offset printing machine comprising, in combination, rotary printing roller means for supporting on peripheral surface sections thereof sections of a printing form; rotary pressure roller means; including holding means for holding a copy sheet on the peripheral surface thereof, said peripheral surfaces of said pressure roller means and of said printing roller means including cylindrical surface sections having substantially the same diameter; rotary offset roller means for receiving on the peripheral surface thereof imprints from the printing form and for transferring the imprints to a copy sheet located on said pressure roller means; operating means operatively connected to said offset roller means for moving the same relative to the other roller means be tween afirst position in which said offset roller means cooperates with said printing roller means along a first printing line and is spaced from said pressure roller means, a second position in which said offset roller means is spaced from said printing roller means and from said pressure roller means, and a third position in which said offset roller means is spaced from said printing roller means and cooperates with said pressure roller means along a second printing line; control means controlled by said printing roller means and operatively connected to said operating means for effecting during one revolution of said printing roller means movement of said offset roller means by said operating means to said first position when undesired sections of the printing form pass through said first printing line, and for effecting movement of said offset roller means to said third position after one revolution of said printing roller means; means for rotating said offset roller means in timed relation with said printing roller means in said first position; means for rotating said offset roller means in timed relation with said pressure roller means in said third position; and means for blocking rotation of said offset roller means in said second position whereby imprints of selected spaced sections of the printing form are printed in adjacent positions on the copy sheet.

15. Offset printing machine comprising, in combination, rotary printing roller means for supporting on peripheral surface sections thereof sections of a printing form; rotary pressure roller means; rotary offset roller means for receiving on the peripheral surface thereof imprints from the printing form and for transferring the imprints to a copy sheet located between said offset roller means and said pressure roller means; operating means operatively connected to said offset roller means for moving the same relative to the other roller means between a first position in which said offset roller means cooperates with said printing roller means along a first printing line and is spaced from said pressure roller means, a second position in which said offset roller means is spaced from said printing roller means and from said pressure roller means, and a third position in which said offset roller means is spaced from said printing roller means and cooperates with said pressure roller means along a second printing line; control means controlled by said printing roller means and operatively connected to said operating means for effecting during one revolution of said printing roller means movement of said offset roller means by said operating means to said first position when peripheral sections of said printing roller means supporting selected sections of the printing form pass through said first printing line for effecting-movement of said offset roller means to said second position when undesired sections of the printing form pass through said first printing line, and for effecting movement of said offset roller means to said third position after one revolution of said printing roller means; means for rotating said offset roller means in timed relation with said printing roller means in said first position and including a gear fixed on said offset roller means and a gear fixed on said printing roller means, said gears meshing only in said first position; means for rotating said offset roller means in timed relation with said pressure roller means in said third position; and means for blocking rotation of said offset roller means in said second position whereby imprints of selected spaced sections of the printing form are printed in adjacent positions on the copy sheet and including a stop means engaging said gear on said offset roller means in said second position.

16. An offset printing machine as set forth in claim 15 wherein said stop means is movable; and including means for moving said stop means to a position releasing said gear while said offset roller means moves from said second to said third position.

17. Offset printing machine comprising, in combination, rotary printing roller means for supporting on peripheral surface sections thereof sections of a printing form; rotary pressure roller means; rotary offset roller means for receiving on the peripheral surface thereof imprints from the printing form and for transferring the imprints to a copy sheet located between said offset roller means and said pressure roller means; operating means including electromagnetic means and linkage means oprelative to the other roller means between a first position in which said offset roller means cooperates with said printing roller means along a first printing line and is spaced from said pressure roller means, a second position in which said offset roller means is spaced from said printing roller means and from said pressure roller means, and a third position in which said offset roller means is spaced from said printing roller means and cooperates with said pressure roller means along a second printing line; control means controlled by said printing roller means and including a plurality of selector switch means respectively associated with said surface sections of said printing roller means and thereby with sections of the printing form, said switch means being connected into the circuit of said electromagnetic means and being closed in timed relation with the turning movement of said printing roller means for effecting during one revolution of said printing roller means movement of said offset roller means by said operating means to said first position when peripheral sections of said printing roller means supporting selected sections of the printing form pass through said first printing line, for efiecting movement of said offset roller means to said second position when undesired sections of the printing form pass through said first printing line, said control means efiecting movement of said offset roller means to said third position after one revolution of said printing roller means; means for rotating said offset roller means in timed relation with said printing roller means in said first position; means for rotating said offset roller means in timed relation with said pressure roller means in said third position; and means for blocking rotation of said offset roller means in said second position whereby imprints of selected spaced sections of the printing form are printed in adjacent positions on the copy sheet.

18. Offset printing machine comprising, in combination, rotary printing roller means for supporting on peripheral surface sections thereof sections of a printing form; rotary pressure roller means; rotary offset roller means for receiving on the peripheral surface thereof imprints from the printing form and for transferring the imprints to a copy sheet located between said offset roller means and said pressure roller means; operating means including electromagnetic means and linkage means operated by said electromagnetic means and operatively connected to said offset roller means for moving the same relative to the other roller means between a first position in which said offset roller means cooperates with said printing roller means along a first printing line and is spaced from said pressure roller means, a second position in which said offset roller means is spaced from said printing roller means and from said pressure roller means, and a third position in which said offset roller means is spaced from said printing roller means and cooperates with said pressure roller means along a second printing line; control means controlled by said printing roller means and including actuator means connected to said printing roller means for rotation therewith and a plurality of selector switch means respectively associated with said surface sections of said printing roller means and thereby with sections of the printing form, said switch means being connected into the circuit of said electromagnetic means and being operated by said actuator means in timed relation with the turning movement of said printing roller means for effecting during one revolution of said printing roller means movement of said offset roller means by said operating means to said first position when peripheral sections of said printing roller means supporting selected sections of the printing form pass through said first printing line, for effecting movement of said offset roller means to said second position when undesired sections of the printing form pass through said first printing line, said control means effecting movement of said offset roller means to said third position after one revolution of said printing roller means; means for rotating said ofiset roller means in said first position in timed relation with said printing roller means; means for rotating said ofiset roller means in timed relation with said pressure roller means in said third position; and means for blocking rotation of said offset roller means in said second position whereby imprints of selected spaced sections of the printing form are printed in adjacent positions on the copy sheet.

19. An offset printing machine as set forth in claim 18 wherein said linkage means include a first lever means connected to said offset roller means; a second lever means supporting said first lever means for turning movement, and being movable with said first lever means and said offset roller means so that turning of said first lever means by said electromagnetic means moves said offset roller means between said first and second positions, and turning of said second lever means moves said offset roller means between said second and third positions.

20. An offset printing machine as set forth in claim 19 wherein said electromagnetic means include first electromagnetic means connected to the first lever means for turning the same; second electromagnetic means connected to one of said lever means for moving said first and second lever means and said offset roller means between said second and third positions; and including third electromagnetic means connected to said means for blocking rotation of said offset roller means for moving the same to a releasing position permitting turning of said offset roller means in said third position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,860,574 Ritzerfeld et a1. Nov. 18, 1958 2,909,117 Crissy Oct. 20, 1959 2,925,029 Patalon Feb. 16, 1960 2,927,528 Janke Mar. 8, 1960 

